Florida Music's Past, Present & Future

It Started with an Idea…
?In the mid 60's, bassist, songwriter and producer, Charlie Souza, a Florida native, was part of a Tampa Bay, Florida band called, “The Tropics” – a band achieving nationally acclaimed success. Fast forward to 1999, when The Tropics regrouped to celebrate their 30-year reunion with a performance at the St. Petersburg Coliseum.  The immortality of their music was evident by the joy and exuberance exhibited by the masses that attended that magical event.  It was a night that the band, nor the crowd, wanted to end.

The next day, as Charlie looked out upon the pristine white sand of St. Pete Beach from a hotel balcony, he got an idea and immediately contacted band mate, Buddy Pendergrass, saying, “Hey - there should be a Florida Music Hall of Fame so that we can keep the memory of all of us alive along with those who came before us as well as those who come after, right up to the present!”
 
During Charlie and Buddy’s preliminary research, they discovered the State of Georgia had a Hall of Fame, but were shocked that Florida didn’t, given that many of the artists honored by the Georgia Music Hall of Fame were actually from Florida or had launched their careers in the beautiful “Sunshine State.”
 
Sadly, Buddy – one of the founding members of The Tropics has passed on, but the dream lives on through the unwavering efforts of Charlie Souza and the diverse and dedicated team of visionaries, music and entertainment professionals, political and private sector supporters he has assembled to serve on the Board of Directors of the Florida Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame.  The quest and the dream continues, not only to honor Buddy, but ALL Florida music creators and entertainers like him who have helped to bring Florida the respect from the public and entertainment industry that it so richly deserves.

The Challenge:

The task before us is to channel the energy and enthusiasm of all Floridians, as well as the worldwide fan bases devoted to our artists - and to solicit their help and financial support as we move forward to honor and cast Florida’s creative pioneers in stone via this permanent and lasting tribute to their work, thus enabling future generations to remember and celebrate the honorable few who spearheaded Florida’s entertainment movement and contributed their diverse talents in music and entertainment with Florida… and the world! 

Won’t You Join Us?